Flushing apparatus for water-closets



if@ 0 n@ j ww Oct. -1, 1929.

E. i H MW u vll g z 3, l!! IIIV! ,I HM JH d .:c M/0` 00rd LIIFM IAM H.1,. 1I

2f/ Q \\9 n0 fr n@ Patented Oct. l, 1929 FLUSHNG- APPARATUS FORApplication filed `May 21,

My invention relates to water closet flushing apparatus of the gravitytype, comprising a tank adapted to contain la body of water for flushingpurposes which is supplied from a service pipe connected with the citywater supply, or from yany other suitable source of supply of waterLinder .pressure. Such tanks are equipped with a float controlled valvewhich is automatically e closed to shut off the admission of water tofloat valve which normally closes the discharge from the tank leading to4the closet bowl, and by 4the lifting of which out of operative positionthe water in the tank is permitted to discharge .for iiushing purposes.When the tank empties to a certain point, this float yvalve drops to itsseat and cuts o 'the discharge.' These gravity'operated flushing Vtanksare of either the high tank or the low-down tank types. The lhigh tankis usually placed seven feet above the ioor, and the low-'down tank isplaced two feet above the floor, or just above the closet bowl.Obviously the :head of water available for flushing purposes as suppliedfrom the high tank is considerably greater than that-from the low tank,but high tanks are regarded as unsightly, and, moreover, they cannot beused succes'si''ully in connection with a water closet vbowl ofv theblow-out vtype which requires a pressure .of at least ten pounds tooperate it. The low tank apparatus is objectionable because of the lowpressure or lack of water head. On this account the bowls used inconnection with the low tanks" must have a reduced discharge passage topermit a solid body of water to form or build up, which is necessary tocreate siphonic action, and low-down tanks cannot 'be used wherespecification call for closet bowls with full size discharge outlets. Asrestriction is necessary in connection with such low tanks to createsiphonic action, the area of the outlet is constricted and consequentlysolid matter does not discharge freely, and the flushing opera'- 1e25.seriai No. 31,843.

tion is not as efficient as in other types of closets in which` greaterpressure is available. Y

The object of my invention is to provide an improved flushing apparatuswhich inay 'l be'employed either in connection with high or low tanks,by which the velocity"'and volume of water discharged in-a specifiedtime from the tankwill be greatly increased, so that the apparatus willoperate efficiently and without danger of getting out of order byclogging or otherwise, as is apt to be the case with watercloset'lflushing apparatus of this type as at present constructed. vThisobject l accomplish as illustrated Vn` the drawings and as lhereinafterdescribed'. l/Vhat I regard as newv is set forth in the claims.

In .the` accompanying drawings,-

Fig l is a sectional view cfa flushing tank equipped with my improvedapparatus, some parts beingin elevation and some linsec't'ion;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged verticalcross-section on Yline 2 2 of Fig: l; andi Fig. .3 is Van enlarged vertical lcross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawingsffd indicates a tank, which may be ofanysuitable' construction adapted` to hold water. `Fitted in the bottomof the tank is a discharge fitting 5 in the form of a pipey externallyscrewvthreaded to receive a coupling nut Gby which it is secured inplace, such screw threads providing means .for attaching the fitting to`a discharge pipe .leading to the `bowl' lin the The stem 9 extendsl:through an` opening 13 in the upper end off the housing il, as clearlyshown -in Fig. l. e At one side of the lowerzportion ofthe housing l1 isa laterally extending-intake 'pipe or nozzle 14,

while its inner end opens into the chamber the outer end of which opensintothe tank 4, y 100' 12 adjacent to the valve seat 7 and somewhatabove it. This intake is shaped to provide a water passage 15 that iscurved downward at its inner end, so that water flowing through it intothe housing 11 will be directed downwardly into the upper end of thefitting 5. rlheintake is also provided with a curved channel 16 at itsupper side near its inner end, the purpose of which will be hereinafterset forth. f

Water is supplied to the tank 4 through a pipe 17, the lower end ofwhich projects through the bottom of the tank and is externallyscrew-threaded, as shown at 18, so that it may be conveniently coupledto an outside service pipe connected with the mains, as usual.-Obviously the pipe 17 constitutes a continuation of such service pipe asit carries water under service pressure. At its upper end the servicepipe 17 is provided with the usual valve 19, by the operation of whichthe admission of water to the tank is controlled. Said valve comprisesan upwardly projecting valve stem 2O having a collar 21 through whichextends a float lever or rod 22 fulcrumed at 23 on a bracket 24 in theusual way, so that by moving the float lever 22 vertically the valvestem 20 may be reciprocated to open or close the valve 19. The outer endof the float lever 22 carries theusual float ball 25 which floats on thewater in the tank and actuates the lever 22 in the usual way to open orclose the valve 19.

An inlet tube 26 is connected at its upper end with the valve 19 bymeans of an elbow 27, and is arranged to receive water from the pipe 17when the valve is open and to be cut olf from said pipe by the closureof said valve. The lower end of the tube 26 extends down to a pointopposite the open end of the intake 15, where it is provided with anozzle or jet 28 which extends a shorty distance into the open end ofthe intake so that water discharged through the tube- 26 is directedinto said intake. As shown in Fig. 1, the nozzle 28 is substantially inline with the curved channel 16 of saidA intake, so that the jetdischarge from said nozzle is direct-ed downwardly into the upper end ofthe fitting 5,

rovided of course the float valve 8 is not seated. l/Vhen said valve ison its seat, so that the upper end of the iitting 5 is closed, the waterdischarged from the tube 26 is retained in the tank, and in that way thetank is filled.

lVhen the water in the tank is to be discharged for flushing purposes,the valve 8 is lifted off of its seat by means of an arm 29 pivoted at29a and arranged to be lifted by therocking of a cross-head 36 providedwith a hand lever V31 located outside the tank. Said lever andcross-head are pivoted at 32, as shown inFig. 1.y The arm 29isaconnected with the stein 9 by a link 33l having at its lower end aneye 34 through which the stem. 9 is threaded, so that said stem may movevertically independently of the link 33 in the usual way.

At one side of the housing 11 is a vertically disposed tube 35, thelower end of which is connected with the fitting 5 below the seat 7 by apassage 36 in a boss 37 formed at one side of the upper portion of thefitting. The tube 35 extends up above the normal level of the water inthe tank 4, and is connected with the elbow 27 by a pipe 38, so thatwhen the valve 19 is open water may flow into the tube 35 and passthrough passage 36 to the fitting 5. This water is used for refillingpurposes, as will be hereinafter explained. At its-upper end the tube 35is provided with a cap in the form of a float cup 39 which is seated inthe upper end of said tube. Said cup is open at the top, and at thebottom is provided with a short tube 40 that extends down into the upperend of the tube 35. Preferably the upper end of the housing 11 isconnected with the tube 35 by a split collar fastener 41 which holds thehousing in place.

The operation of the apparatus is as followsLWhen the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1, at which time the tank 4 is filled with waterup to the normal level, the float 25 is held up, thereby holding thevalve 19 closed so that the supply of water to the tank is cut off, andthe water in the tank is prevented from passing out through the fitting5 by means of the float valve 8 which is then on its seat 7. When thecloset bowl is to be flushed, the lever 31 is operated to rock thecross-head 30, thereby lifting the arm 29, which liftsthe float valve 8off of its seat and permits the waterin the tank to pass into thefitting 5 through the intake 14. The level of the water in. the tankthereupon drops, lowering the `float 25, which opens the valve 19 andadmits water to t-he jet tube 26 under service pressure. At the sametime water is admitted through tube 38 to tube 35. rlhe discharge ofwater from the nozzle 28 into the intake 14 operates as an injector toincrease the velocity and volume of water that is delivered to thecloset bowl, since the full force of the service pressure is applied tothe ordinary gravity discharge from the tank, so that maximum flushingefficiency is obtained. This will be better appreciated when it isconsidered that with the low-down tank as at present constructed thehead of water is two feet, equivalent to a pressure one pound whereas,with my improved jet discharge, with a service pipe delivering waterunder pressure of ten pounds, which is considered low, the effect of atwenty foot head of water would be obtained as against the two' foothead with the old low-down tank, and a seven foot head with the old hightank. With my improvement, therefore, a much better flush ing may beobtained with a low tank than can at present be obtained with a hightank.

l/Vhen the tank 4 has been substantially emptied, the float valve 8drops to its seat, cutting olf further discharge vthrough .the in.- take14, but as vthe passage 736 leading vfrom tube :35 is below said seat,the discharge of refill 'water through said passage is not stopped, andconsequently such water passes downto the bowl for refilling purposes.Aft.- er the seating of the valve 8, 4the water dis.- charged throughnozzle 28 remains in the tank 4, and said tank is gradually refilleduntil the float 25 is lifted and closes the valve 19. This shuts thewater off from tube 26 and also from tube 38. Should the water in thetank rise above the upper end of the over llow tube A; 35, the cap 39will be lifted by flotation, permitting the water to overflow intosaidtube and preventing it from rising any higher in the tank. Theoperation of the cap 39 being controlled simply by gravity, it cannotget .out of order, and therefore it may be relied on to operateefficiently. The tube 40 connected with the bottom of said cap preventsits displacement, and also permits any water entering the cap to passdown into the tube 35 so that the cap will always retain its buoyancy.Durino' the flushing operation the cap 39 prevents any large volume ofair from. entering the tube 35 and being carried down with the flushingwater, which would have the effect of reducing the volume of theflushing water and would therefore interfere with the proper operationof the apparatus. The curved channel 16 in the upper part of the intake15 acts as an auxiliary t0 the pressure Jet 28, and is arranged todirect the powerful jet of water discharged therefrom into the center ofthe outlet 5 below the point at which the passage 36 opens thereinto. Bythis means of concentrating-energy maximum efficiency is obtained.

My invention includes not only the specific means shown and described bywhich the object of the invention is accomplished` but also suchvariations or modifications thereof as would occur to those skilled inthe art.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank having afloat valve con- 4trolled outlet, a service pressure operated injectorarranged to deliver water under pressure to said outlet, and a floatactuated valve for controlling the operation of said injector.

2. A flushing apparatus for water closets ,comprising a tank having anoutlet, a service pressure operated injector arranged to deliver waterunder pressure to said outlet, a float valve for controlling thedischarge of water from said tank through said outlet, 4fand a floatactuated valve for controlling the operation of said injector.

3. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, a servicepipe for supplying water under pressure, a float valve con- .'trolledoutlet from said tank, a tube for delivcomprising a tank, a housingtherein forming a float valve chamber, an outlet ,communicating with thebottom of said .chamber and vhav.- ing a valve seat at itsiupper end, afloat valve in said chamber adapted normally to close said outlet, anintake opening laterally in to said chamber, a service pipe forsupplying water under pressure, a tube arranged to re ceive w-ater underpressure from said serv` ice pipe and to inject the same through saidintake into said outlet, and a float actuated valve for ycontrolling theadmission of water to said tube.

5. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, a housingtherein forming a-,ioat valve chamber, an outlet communicating with thebottom of saidchamber and having a valve seat at its upper end, a floatvalve in said chamber adapted normally to ,close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally into said chamber and arranged to discharge water`downwardly into said outlet,a service pipe for supplying water underpressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure from saidservice pipe and to inject the same into said intake, and a floatactuated valve for controlling the admission of water to said tube.

6. A yflushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, a housingtherein forming a float valve chamber, an outlet communicatingwith thebottom of said chamber and havinga valve seat at its upper end, a floatvalve in rsaid chamber adapted normally `to close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally -into said chamber, a service pipe for supplying waterunder pressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure fromsaid service pipe and having a nozzle for directing water therefrom intoand through said intake, and a float actuated valve for controlling theadmissionof water to said tube.

47. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, a housingtherein forming a float valve chamber, an outlet communicat ing with thebottom of said chamber and having a valve seat at its upper end, a floatvalve in said chamber adapted normally to close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally into said chamber, a service pipe for supplying water`under pressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure fromsaid service pipe and 'having a nozzle for directing water therefrominto and through said intake, said intake being arranged -to direct'thewater from said nozzle downwardly intosaid outlet, and a float actuatedvalve for -controlling the admission of water to said tube.

8. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising aftank,a housingtherei-n forming a float valve chamber, an outlet communicating with thebottom of said chamber and having a valve seat at its upper end, a floatvalve in said chamber adapted normally to close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally into said chamber, a service pipe for supplying waterunder pressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure fromsaid service pipe and having a nozzle for directing water therefrom intoand through said intake, and a lloat actuated valve for controlling theadmission of water to said tube, said intake having a downwardly curvedchannel arranged to direct the water from said noz- Zle downwardly intosaid outlet.

9. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising atank, a housingtherein forming a float valve chamber, an outlet communicating with thebottom of said chamber and having a valve seat at its upper end, a floatvalve in said chamber adapted normally to close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally into said chamber, a service pipe for supplying waterunder pressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure fromsaid service pipe and having a nozzle for directing water therefrom intoand through said intake, a float actuated valve for controlling theadmission of water to said tube, and an overflow pipe in said tankopening into said outlet, said intake being arranged to direct the waterfrom said nozzle downwardly into said outlet below said opening.

l0. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, a housingtherein forming a float valve chamber, an outlet communieating with thebottom of said chamber and having a valve seat at its upper end, a ioatvalve in said chamber adapted normally to close said outlet, an intakeopening laterally into said'chamber, a service pipe for supplying waterunder pressure, a tube arranged to receive water under pressure fromsaid service pipe and having a nozzle for directing water therefrom intoand through said intake, a float actuated valve for controlling` theadmission of water to said tube, an overflow pipe discharging into saidoutlet, and a cup valve normally closing the upper end of said overflowpipe.

l1. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, an outletat the bottom thereof, a float valve controlling said outlet, a servicepipe for supplying water to said tank, a iioat actuated valve forcontrolling the water supply, an overflow pipe in said tank andcommunicating with said outlet, and a cup valve normally closing theupper end of said overflow pipe, said cup valve having means forpreventing the accumulation of water therein.

412. A flushing apparatus for water closets comprising a tank, an outletat the bottom thereof, a float valve controlling said outlet, a servicepipe forsupplying water to said ROBERT A. eBooks.

